A Story to Tell – Voice and Authorship in the Age of AI
Mariana Fernandez Mora

In the age of AI, how does the concept of “voice” start to be reshaped by generative technologies like ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion or MidJourney?

Notions of co-creation and machine-human collaboration open up questions of what authorship and personal voice mean when considering yourself a part of a network of knowledge rather than a singular voice. Departing from Ursula K. Le Guin’s definition of spear (hero + beginning and end) vs bag narrative (a storytelling process with no beginning or end), we will explore how AI and algorithmic thinking can expand our ideas around creative egos and move towards collaborative structures of knowledge and culture production—shifting towards notions of digital kin and machine-human co-creation.

How can this “simple” change in perspective activate spaces of agency that counteract embedded hierarchies and biases in the algorithms?

During this workshop series, we will research and play with different aspects of “voice”, from sound and text to drawing and dialogue. Using different methods and materials inside and outside the digital realm, we will explore the topic from as many perspectives as possible to ultimately speculate new future narratives and networked voices.

Together, we will experiment and work towards a final shape to be presented during Rietveld Uncut at Stedelijk Museum.

Texts: Ursula K. Le Guin, Donna Haraway, Legacy Russell. Artistic references: Saodat Ismailova, Devendra AI
A Story to Tell – Voice and Authorship in the Age of AI takes place on January 24; February 7, 14, 28; and March 13 from 17:00-19:00, room TBC

Places are limited and, in principle, your participation concerns the entire series. Sign up by sending an email before Jan. 16, to: studiumgenerale@rietveldacademie.nl